An Empire In Shadows: Chapter I - Until Lambs Become the Lions

[Frontier Tenacity]

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[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlcUwUwjLrs[/media]​

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For several years, the Confederacy of Independent Systems has enjoyed peace and prosperity, its borders safe from all who would threaten it. In the wake of the fall of the Galactic Empire, no other nation or organization had arisen to truly pose a threat to the southern superpower, yet times of peace are never more than a fleeting dream which inevitably ends...

It began in the less trodden corners of Confederate space, the sighting of a ship. Then another, and another and another. A few TIE fighters here, a pair of lonely Star Destroyers there, each time a fleeting glimpse before they vanished. Then, came a name, uttered in hushed tones at first, a whisper, of a silent dragon lying in waiting for its prey:

Rear Admiral Tiberius Bayne

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Other Chapters:

• Chapter II: Against All Things Ending (Upcoming)
• Chapter III: And They Held the Sky Suspended (Upcoming)

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Druckenwell - A world of industry and technology, a world with strong ties to the mighty Confederate droid army, its many factories churning out weapons and machinery which keeps a sizable percentage of the southern superpower's military supplied.

A world with a strong Confederate tradition, having been a loyal supporter of its ideals since the days of Count Dooku and General Grievous. Yet it is also a world in turmoil. Following political upheavals, an election was held. One which saw the appointment of a decorated war hero to the vaunted position of Viceroy, yet all is not yet well. Dark rumors circulate about this election, whispered by disgruntled citizens in cantinas and on the streets. Rumors which have reached the highest levels of government and what these rumors said, was found to be particularly worrisome. It was said that the new Viceroy had cheated. That he won his position through election fraud.

Worse yet, there are other rumors. Ones which speak of this war hero's less reputable connections, which tie him to the former Imperial capital of Kamino and are enough to send chills down the most stoic veteran's spine: Some say that our war hero is, in fact, an imperial clone, a sleeper agent, planted in the Confederacy's midst to unleash mayhem when the time is right.

Sensing the danger, the Confederacy was quick to react, dispatching the Knights Obsidian to the world, they would root out the truth and take all necessary steps to investigate these rumors of foul play.

Yet, at the very heart of the Confederacy, another beast begins to stir. On the frigid fortressworld of Nelvaan, [member="Darth Tacitus"]'s Eternal Empire has also taken notice of these rumors. Loyal to the Confederacy's government and ideals, yet they always had their own way of handling things. Upon learning of the extent of the infiltration and fearing that by the time the Obsidians' investigation concluded, it would be too late, they decided to act.

 

[Frontier Tenacity]

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[float='Right]

[/float]
Viceroy Kayde Arryn

It had been the most convoluted election in Druckenwell's history, but it was finally over. Several candidates had dropped out, inexplicably resigning, while others were arrested on charges of corruption and two even suffered mysterious accidents that resulted in their deaths. Out of this convoluted nightmare, a victor had finally emerged. Kayde Arryn, a decorated former Colonel in the Confederate Navy, had won the election through the promise of cutting taxes and further deregulating the economy. Or so, the planet's media said.

Darker rumors circulated about the new Viceroy, which, given the other controversies surrounding this election, had prompted the Confederacy to dispatch the Knights Obsidian in order to get to root out the truth. They had probably arrived already, the new Viceroy thought. They would likely be present at his inauguration ceremony, which was due to begin in mere minutes, likely intending to question him as soon as possible. Indeed, as he stepped out into the open square to greet the cheering crowds, he saw several faces he recognized from the files he had read on them. The Confederacy's inquisitors were already here.

This was not the time to worry about these issues, however. He would deal with them later. Now was the time to enjoy his victory and formally begin his tenure as Viceroy of Druckenwell.

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Waiting by the window, inside a nearby office building that had been vacated by security forces with the occasion of the inauguration. That was because the building held a great view over the square below, the sniper calibrated his slugthrower rifle, once more checking to make sure everything was right. The planetary security forces had been diligent, yet even so had been unable to prevent the lone Wolfguard from gaining entry. Their procedures pitted against one of Nelvaan's deadliest agents, they never stood a chance. Even now, they stood downstairs, completely oblivious of the assassin patiently stalking his target from above.

The new Viceroy stepped into the square, greeting the applauding crowds of supporters and taking his place at the podium. He would never get the chance to deliver his speech. The assassin trained his rifle on his target, then gently squeezed the trigger. A single slug left the barrel of the rifle, punching through the transparisteel window, racing like a deadly greyhound chasing after its prey.

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Spoiler: Dossier: Kayde Arryn

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A native of Druckenwell, Kayde Arryn was born to a working class couple who were employed by one of the world's many weapons factories. He underwent primary and highschool education, then, at the age of eighteen he enlisted in the local military, seeking to improve his station in life.

He served for several years in the local defense forces, until completing his contract, upon which he emigrated to Geonosis, to the nascent Confederacy of Independent Systems. There, he enlisted in the navy, his sharp mind and ability to keep calm in tense situations quickly leading to him advancing through the ranks.

During the Battle of Tatooine, he served as a Colonel, in charge of one of the droid regiments tasked with securing the fleet against boarding parties. The ship he was stationed on was shot down over the planet and he was left behind, presumed dead, though in reality his escape pod had been captured by the Galactic Empire.

Escaping from the prison he was held in, he then allegedly proceeded to wage a campaign of sabotage against the imperial forces on the planet of Tatooine, until he was reunited with the Confederacy when the Galactic Empire collapsed. He then retired from the military and returned to his native planet, where he worked as chief of security for one of the local Corporations, until he announced his candidacy during the recent election.

Spoiler: Dossier: Tiberius Bayne

Born on Coruscant and raised by a single mother, Tiberius Bayne would later become disillusioned with life in the Galactic Alliance and would eventually join the ranks of the Galactic Empire's navy. A diligent, but unremarkable officer, Bayne would eventually advance through the ranks, attaining the position of Rear Admiral by the time of the Galactic Empire's collapse.

Up to that point a capable, but unassuming officer, he and his forces did not participate in the Battle of Tatooine, being stationed over Bothawui at the time. During the turmoil of the Galactic Empire's collapse, he did not participate in any of the ensuing hostilities, choosing instead to rally his fleet and disappear.

Reports about his activities following the imperial collapse are sketchy. His forces may have been involved in several minor conflicts within Chiss space, although there is no conclusive evidence of this fact. His current whereabouts are unknown, although it is rumored that he and his fleet are hiding somewhere within Confederate space, planning some sort of operation to bring the southern superpower down and restore the Galactic Empire within its place.

There are suspicions that he may have been involved in the controversy surrounding the Druckenwell election, some intelligence reports even suggesting that the new Viceroy may be, in fact, a clone of the real Kayde Arryn, a sleeper agent planted there by the Rear Admiral as part of his plan.

Objectives:

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Knights Obsidian: The Knights Obsidian arrived on Druckenwell to investigate the controversy surrounding the election and the rumors about the new Viceroy. Instead, they bore witness to the new Viceroy's assassination, during his inauguration ceremony no less. Now, other planetary officials are turning up dead, or disappearing. Their mission has become all the more serious. They must get to the bottom of what is happening on Druckenwell and root out any enemy agents that may be operating on the planet

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Dauntless Commandos: The Situation on Druckenwell has deteriorated to the point where planetary officials are being assassinated, or disappearing altogether. In order to assist the Knights Obsidian with their investigation, the Dauntless have been dispatched to place the world under martial law. It is their task to maintain order and to insure no one gets in or out without the proper authorization

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Eternal Empire: The Eternal Empire has been keeping an eye out for Admiral Bayne's forces for some time. Recognizing the many similarities between this warlord of the Imperial Remnant and his own rise to power, Darth Tacitus has dispatched his agents to rid Druckenwell of the upstart admiral's influence. Fearing that the proper communications channels may have been compromised, the Eternal Emperor has decided to take matters into his own hands. Secretly leading a task force to the planet, he intends to kill or capture any Imperial Remnant agents he can find


This thread is the first chapter in a campaign. While the objectives above are primarily intended for the Knights Obsidian, Dauntless Commandos and the Eternal Empire, any CIS members can participate. Depending on how the story progresses, Admiral Bayne might make an appearance as well.

Spoiler: Tag List

[member="A'Runda"]
[member="Akabane"]
[member="Alden Akaran"]
[member="Alora Fae"]
[member="Alwine Lechner"]
[member="Amarant deWinter"]
[member="Amaya Cardei"]
[member="Amethyst Atreides"]
[member="Amethyst"] Sovereign
[member="Anya Malvern"]
[member="Arabella Darkhold"]
[member="Archim Calixis"]
[member="Ari Zanareth"]
[member="Arlox"]
[member="Aston Jacobs"]
[member="Aya Clarke"]
[member="Azmodan"]
[member="Betty Americus"]
[member="Braan Kell"]
[member="Bandit Six"]
[member="Caesar Kenway"]
[member="Callisa Asran"]
[member="Cardinal Vi'dreya"]
[member="Carith Thelcar"]
[member="Chikako Liona"]
[member="Cim Salro"]
[member="Corvus Dravere"]
[member="Daisy Americus"]
[member="Damsy Callat"]
[member="Danger Arceneau"]
[member="Daniel Americus"]
[member="Dalton Kenway"]
[member="Darth Tacitus"]
[member="Darth Timorem"]
@Dauntless.Luna
[member="Daxton Bane"]
[member="Dhakarta"]
[member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"]
[member="Drauchir"]
[member="Ecthelion Aiglos"]
[member="Efried Halbrecht"]
[member="Ella Nova"]
[member="Erin Tenel"]
[member="Fawn Alzi"]
[member="Gerwald Lechner"]
[member="Gray Venasir"]
[member="Isarn Apis"]
[member="Ithiel Vi'Dreya"]
[member="Jade Isara"]
[member="Jennifer Blanchard"]
[member="Jorco Czeku"]
[member="Jorge"]
[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]
[member="Jyoti Nooran"]
[member="Kalee Bladesworn"]
[member="Kaptan Americus"]
[member="Karlie Lynn Destat"]
[member="Kasca Fen"]
[member="Katrine Van-Derveld"]
[member="Kayla Wylen"]
[member="Kingsley"]
[member="Kip Ridel"]
[member="Kurayami Bloodborn"]
[member="Kurenai Yumi"]
[member="Kwelin Orlov"]
[member="Kyber"]
[member="Kyrinov"]
[member="Lefwen Claskier"]
[member="Lirka Ka"]
[member="Luna Terrik"]
[member="Luna Vega"]
[member="Lyla Quinn"]
[member="Mallory Bash"]
[member="Maple Harte"]
[member="Marek Starchaser"]
[member="Mauer"]
[member="Minerva Vessia"]
[member="Muad Dib"]
[member="Nine Lives"]
[member="Orion Trex"]
[member="Osintrium"]
[member="Petra Cavataio"]
[member="Qaarssk Roark"]
[member="Razelle Breuner"]
[member="Roy Americus"]
[member="Rylan Kordel"]
[member="Samantha Jade"]
[member="Scherezade deWinter"]
[member="Shalita Vi'dreya"]
[member="Sola Marr"]
[member="Sor-Jan Xantha"]
[member="Srina Talon"]
[member="Taramaz Laurs"]
[member="Tex Americus"]
[member="Teyla Ee'everwest"]
[member="Thalira Kiing"]
[member="Tmoxin Temi"]
[member="Traveler"]
[member="Treiades Rhoujen"]
[member="Varick Lechner"]
[member="Veronika Fleischer"]
[member="VildarnTentoria"]
[member="Vyra Silara"]
[member="Xenro"]
[member="Zhai'ellev"]

[member="Cardinal Vi'dreya"]
[member="Kurenai Yumi"]
[member="Ithiel Vi'Dreya"]
[member="Marek Starchaser"]
[member="Nine Lives"]
[member="Rylan Kordel"]
[member="Scherezade deWinter"]
[member="Wrynn Wraubek"]
[member="Kwelin Orlov"]
[member="Shalita Vi'dreya"]
[member="Jarik Creel"]
[member="Aayaith Siosa"]
[member="Cerik Soloman"]
[member="Nix Scamandros"]
[member="Zak Dymo"]
[member="Anastasia Vi'dreya"]
[member="Josiah Denko"]
[member="Anya Malvern"]
[member="Khia Varad"]
[member="Drauchir"]
[member="Gerwald Lechner"]
[member="Isarn Apis"]
[member="Varick Lechner"]
[member="Alwine Lechner"]
[member="Darth Ivum"]
[member="Cezar Alexandrescu"]
[member="Zhai'ellev"]
[member="Taramaz Laurs"]
[member="Naedira Darcrath"]
[member="Ecthelion Aiglos"]
[member="Firenne Van-Derveld"]
[member="Erin Tenel"]
[member="Hayden Va'kin"]

 

[ToKola Bakari]

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Location: Druckenwell | Objective: Information Collection | Tags: [member="Darth Tacitus"] ​

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Crane's fist slammed into the temple of a younger male Twi'lek. His pale blue skin was marred by a mixture of bruises and superficial lacerations. The Twi'lek let out a loud yelp as Crane drew back once again. However, this time the man simply rested a hand on the alien's shoulder. "Now that I have your attention."

The darkness that filled the room parted as the lights came on, revealing the small interrogation room that the Psi-corp operative had been making use of. The better part of an hour passed with Crane roughing the alien up, just getting him nice and ready for the hours to come. It was about time Crane finally asked a question or two. The alien, Yara'mei, was a known backer of the former Imperial Admiral Tiberius Bane. On the surface he was a rather successful businessman who worked in trade and commerce, below the scene the Twi'lek was using his shipping company to transport weapons out of Confederate space. The Eternal Empire had been privy to the knowledge for some time but they had not yet acted on it.

"Well Yara. Seems you've been doing pretty good for yourself. Your company made about ten million credits last year just from trade contracts. Of course, you made almost four times that pushing weapons to the Hutts." The Twi'lek's head hung in exhaustion but he did attempt to deny the accusations. "Wait...you got it all wrong. I'm not-"

"No you can save the bullchit. I don't really care about how you make your credits." Lucius said, glancing back to find the chair that sat behind him. Parting his trench coat to the side, Crane leaned back into the seat with an exhale of relief. "No no....that's not it. I'm here to talk about your new partner, Tiberius Bane." The Twi'lek raised his head slowly, his eyes showing the first signs of true fear that Lucius had seen all day. "Oh ho ho! So you do know Bane?" Crane said, with a brief chuckle coming from his lips.

"He will kill me...." The Twi'lek muttered, shaking his head desperately.

"Yea, he might." Lucius conceded, before his hand reached into the pocket of his black trench coat. He pulled out a small metallic device, waving it in front of the Twi'lek's eyes. "But I'll do so much more than that." His deadpan tone was given with no sign of jest or bluff. It was obvious Crane was about to lead this man to the gates of hell.

 

[STaCLO]

Location: Druckenwell
Objective: Investigate Election -> Investigate Assassination

STaCLO should've figured that as a newer member of the Knights Obsidian he wasn't gonna be given much responsibility. Currently the droid Shard hybrid was indoors in an office looking over reports and accounts sent in from the order's Pathfinders who were out and about collecting information. In reality he shouldn't really be doing an archivist's job. But KO was low on manpower with there being a mission investigating child kidnapping cults on other dimensions.

As he was looking through all the convoluted information around this election STaCLO was having a holo-com playing the news of the inauguration beside him at his desk. He was left alone in a rather small boring room with look over the notes and other paperwork. However, it soon cut to breaking news. A reporter over the comms was announcing that the newly elected viceroy had just been assassinated.

...

Now it seemed like STaCLO's mission wasn't going to be all that boring.

Later

Government and public officials were beginning to drop like flies now after the election the droid was seriously considering that the planet was going though some kind of coup. But here, in CIS space, that was risky. Perhaps whoever was behind this had bigger plans. Currently STaCLO was on his way to speak with one of the viceroy's still remaining cabinet members. Because of this they've been in protective care to at least lower their mortality rate. Getting out of the transport shuttle that took him to their personal estate on the planet STaCLO was led in to meet with the government official. Hopefully things go smoothly.

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

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Objective: Be able to trace all those who haven't gone missing yet
Wearing: Armor | Leather Pants | Pathfinder Boots | The Forgemaster's Ring | Ring of Stasis | Sofitor
Wielding: 10 Czerka knives | 2 Nastirci Combat Knives | Fire and Smoke (lightsabers) | Hidden Wrist Blades | Knight Obsidian Sword | 4 Glitter Bullets
Tags: ?

A pile of hot chit. That was what it was. There was no other term that Madalena could grant this thing; it was like a pile of poodoo that smelled really bad, but then someone put it inside a heater and tried to heat it up so it would smell even worse.

Druckenwell. She did not know this planet at all, had no recollection of ever having been there in the first place. And still, she had been there. She had seen the new Viceroy murdered after he attempted to take the place left behind by… Well. That guy with the green eyes who might or might not have been her uncle.

And now with planetary officials turning up dead, they were going to have to do something.

What Madalena needed, was access to those who were already dead. Her mere being a Knight Obsidian at this point was insufficient to grant her that access.

Typing as quckly as her fingers would move, Madalena sent a message up the ladder;

To Whom This May Concern,

I am Pathfinder Madalena Antares. I am a Blood Hound, which gives me abilities that you will not often find, among them the ability to Ride the Blood. If you grant me access to those who have turned up dead – not by sniper rifle – I will be able to lick their blood and see the last moments of their lives. Perhaps this will give us a lead as to who or what we are exactly looking for.

I await your hasty reply.

Hitting the send button, there was little to do other than wait now.

 

[Kainan Wolfe]

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Attn: [member="Lucius Crane"] | [member="Gerhard Manndorf"] | [member="Efried Halbrecht"]​

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• Blackwatch Safehouse
  Druckenwell, Confederacy of Independent Systems

The small office building that served as a safehouse for the Eternal Empire's task force was officially registered to a ghost company which supposedly handled cybersecurity for various customers. The Nelvaanians had several such establishments all over Confederate space and beyond, for situations such as these and many others, which required the covert movement of personnel and supplies.

Today was such an occasion and it was delicate enough that the Eternal Emperor himself had decided to participate in the operation. Druckenwell had become a base of operations for the so-called Empire in Shadow, who's agents had infiltrated even the highest ranks of the planetary government. Given how much of the Druckenwellian hierarchy had been compromised, it was safe to assume that the infiltration had been going on for a while, which meant that time was of the essence.

To avoid a civil war, a delicate hand was required here, but also a swift and decisive application of just the right amount of force. Of course, the details of the operation would be kept classified even from the Knights Obsidian, unless Tacitus could talk to them in person. They could not afford the risk of using any comms systems. It was likely that this planet's network of relays and satellites had also been compromised.

As such, the Emperor and his agents had quietly been arriving onto the planet over the past few weeks, quietly smuggling in equipment while taking great care not to alert the local authorities or cause further unrest amongst the population.

With these thoughts in mind, Tacitus entered the small interrogation room where Deputy Director Crane, from the Psi Corps branch of the dreaded Blackwatch secret police, was in the process of extracting information from the Twi'lek prisoner. "How goes the interrogation, Deputy Director?" he asked, not sparing the captive a single glance. The alien was a traitor and thus, in the Sith Lord's eyes, deserving of all that was happening to him. "Has the prisoner revealed anything useful, yet?"

 

[Daxton Bane]

The sight of crimson and gold armor of Daxton Bane caused many to mutter uneasily among themselves, after all the Dark Lord wasn’t the most active in social circles. Those who have had the pleasure of his private attendance soon either disappeared or suffered rather gristly coincidental accidents. So when he arrived with the Knights Obsidian it was all but expected that someones time was about to end.

However, ever since his arrival on Drunkenwell the Dark Lord was no where even near the Viceroy, in fact at the time of the assassination he was in a meeting with some of the factory overseers discussing a large order of combat droids that was not strictly on the books. But as soon as word reached him, he and his apprentice headed straight to the scene of the murder.

Issuing orders to have the area cordorned off and body unmoved, this would be an excellent opportunity for the Sith Lord to take a sample for analysis and determine if the rumors that former Viceroy was a clone were true or not. Given his gift for using the Force and his knowledge of various gene techniques, he knew there was no one better to get to the bottom of this matter.

(Open Tag)

 

[Luca Donskoi]

[SIZE=12pt]Objective: [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]Patrol the Skies[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=12pt]Wearing: [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]Flight Suit (Helmet & Gloves)[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=12pt]Ship: [/SIZE]T-77 'Talon' Stealth Interceptor​

[SIZE=12pt]Equipment: [/SIZE]KC-95 'Ace of Spades' Blaster Pistol​

[SIZE=12pt]Tags: [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]None[/SIZE]​

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<<Alright, listen up. Intel tells us that a zealot has been staging something in the sector. His name’s Tiberius Bayne and he used to be a Rear Admiral of the Galactic Empire, now turned Warlord. There’s reason to believe he’s behind the upheaval here, so keep your eyes peeled out there; he might just make an appearance.

Mission’s simple. No one enters nor leaves the planet unless they’re CDF. Dauntless has put martial law into effect so the only boys in the air should be our own. Make your sweeps and run your patrols. And for the love of all that’s good in this galaxy, stay vigilant.

You know your assignments, now get to them.>>

Nothing like a good ole mission brief to start the day off. Settle the nerves and get the blood flowing. And as the commanding officer rambled on about this and that, I couldn’t help but allow my mind to drift somewhat. This was just ridiculous to be flown all the way across Confederacy space. And to do what? Babysit? That’s what it felt like, at least to me. But I couldn’t complain; I was going to at least be flying this time and there was the potential that there’d be an engagement of sorts. Hopefully this Bayne would pull his tail out from between his legs and flex what muscle he thought he possessed. At least I could hope, right?

I ran my hand across the top of my helmet which sat on my knee and tapped my fingers lightly at the crown. And then the dismissal came and I stood and tucked my helmet beneath my arm as I headed to the hangar. Today I’d be flying the ship I’d been learning to pilot ever sense I found my way into the CDF and at last I had my shot. She was a rough girl to pilot at points, with controls that just appeared to be overly complicated for no reason. But I wasn’t the typical caliber of pilot. I was a good one, even told at times I was one of the best and I knew I wouldn’t disappoint. She was one hell of a ship.

As I rounded the corner into the hangar in which the 8 T-77 ‘Talons’ were awaiting their pilots.

“You’ve got oh-one-seven-four, Marshall. Have a good flight,” the flight officer said as I entered the bay, motioning toward the ship on the far, right side of the hangar with the designation ’01-74’ painted along either wing tip. They were folded upward in their usual docked fashion and I could see as the maintenance crews finished their final preflight checks before scurrying from the ship itself, pulling their equipment away with them. It was mostly droids, which is something that I was still getting used, with how it differed from the fallen Galactic Alliance that I once served.

I didn’t say anything, but I did acknowledge the deck hand with a nod before I quickened my pace to the ship. It took me no time at all to climb into it once I got there and make myself comfortable within the cockpit, leaving it popped and I fastened myself in place. I tucked the helmet to the left of me and pulled on my gloves, before thumbing a few commands to begin the initial start up sequence of the ship. I couldn’t help but smile as the engines hummed to life, complemented by a faint, yet high-pitched whine. The smell of exhaust began to fill the immediate area surrounding me, but it was a smell I’d come to appreciate.

As the ship’s systems continued to come to life, I fitted my helm to me head and connected the appropriated valves so that my g-suit and oxygen supply were good to go. Within a few seconds, the electronic screen in front of me and the HUD flashed to life, and I thumbed in yet another command to run a pre-flight diagnostic to ensure all systems were in good and working order. Couldn’t have myself at a handicap before I even took off and besides, it was proper pre-flight operations.

\\T-77 01-74 – Saber 1
\\System Diagnostic & Analysis . . . RUN

INITIALIZING . . .

Status . . . COMPLETE

Power_Levels:
\\Engines: NOMINAL
\\Hyperdrive: NOMINAL
\\Life_Support: NOMINAL

Weapon_Systems:
\\Laser_Cannon: NOMINAL
\\Torpedo: NOMINAL
\\Ion_Cannon: NOMINAL

Shielding:
\\Primary: NOMINAL
\\Integrity: NOMINAL

REPORT . . .

\\ALL_SYSTEMS_CLEAR
\\STATUS: NOMINAL
Satisfied with the report, I secured the cockpit and pushed more power into the engines, filling the ship begin to rumble as it was fed more fuel. I thumbed another set of commands on the console, releasing the mag lock on the ship and allowing it to float free of the durasteel that lined the floor on the hangar. With practiced and well-rehearsed finesse, I powered the craft forward and once I was clear and the fighters on my wing, I throttled more power into the vessel, giving her more speed to power out of the hangar.

Within a few seconds, a minute, max, I was clear and pulled a switch within the cockpit, laying the wing tips flat and the moved the throttle forward. The flagship quickly lost size and I sped away from her and to Druckenwell below.

 

[Ithiel Vi'Dreya]

Another day, he didn’t often stop. Out of his armor, moving boxes around and carrying parts where they needed them. Not saying much and quietly getting on with it. Part engineer, part Mandalorian, part knight, one long list of duties. Ithiel was walking the halls somewhere around Madalena Antares|[member="Scherezade deWinter"]. Ground or space, all the same to him.

Settling into being an engineer again. Every day his head cleared and he remembered his place. The drugs were almost completely out of his system now. Things needed fixing up, so he was there. There was grease on the face like he’d been working a few too many hours under a speeder, a grey tank top that needed a change, and thick grey jeans with thicker black boots on the end. Boots now making clear footsteps outside her doorway.

Standing there, he waited for her to finish typing. Then called over, “where do you want this,” carrying parts or tools in the box that he'd been asked to haul up. By the way he was using his shoulder to support the weight, it was heavy. There was no knock, he didn't have three hands, and so he might have spooked her.

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]​

 

[H3xle]

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Objective: Investigate Dead Politicians
Tags: [member="Ithiel Vi'Dreya"] | [member="Scherezade deWinter"]

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Dressed in comfortable clothing that would fit in anywhere except the darkest slums or the ritziest parties, Araya slipped into the government building on Drunkenwell and waited in the queue to get through security. She'd been hired through a double blind to aid in figuring out who was killing local politicians, and the pay was good enough that she didn't worry, much, about who was footing the bill. Her turn came, and she let her satchel get searched as she passed through the weapon detector, the pat down, then the wanding. She didn't have shoes to doff or don for the process, so she went through quickly. Her bag only held her datapad, stylus, and her identity packet. That it wasn't her true identity packet never even got considered. She never did anything suspicious in the line, she was courteous without being overly nice, and did nothing the least bit memorable.

It really wasn't the guards fault that she got through on a false identity, it was her job to make sure her identities were able to pass muster. While she wasn't a master at it, she was damn good at creating an identity that was legit to all but the most in depth reviews. That she was infiltrating the building in order to find out who was killing local politicians didn't make what she was doing any more legal.

Once through security, she slipped her satchel over her head so its strap fell across her chest and the bag rested on her right hip. Her tail waved lazily in the air as she moved with languid grace to the bank of elevators and took them up to the fiftieth floor. The first murdered politician had an office there, and she hoped she'd be able to find a digital trail to follow towards who killed the young man.

The elevator held a small host of government flunkies, a delivery of someones lunch, and a pair of planetary guards heading to the court facility on level seventy. Araya maintained her aloof nature, letting her eyes pass over all of the people present in the elevator car, then moving to the panel to make sure fifty was selected. Then it was just a matter of waiting until the car reached her floor.

 

[Daxton Bane]

To say that everyone was jumpy would have been an understatement. Clearly the locals were not so easy to trust Daxton, that only proved they were smart enough to know a threat when they see one. The captain of this guard detail however was showing considerably less intellect by blocking Daxton’s passage and denying him access to the body.

Either blind loyalty was the basis of his promotion or perhaps he thought his authority was way above the Daxton as he clearly all but sprayed his words at Daxton’s reflective face plate, demanding that the Sith Lord stand down and show some identification. This apprentice took one step back as she did not want to sprayed by the man’s guts should Daxton decide to evicerate him from the inside out with his Force Tentacles. The other guards stood uneasily about, not certain if it would be a smart idea to point their weapons in the direction of a Sith who ate blaster bolts for fun, or so the holovids claimed he did.

“Who am I?” Daxton’s amused voice seemed to echo in their heads as the reflective face mask slid back to reveal the Zabraks face plastered with a reassuring smile, well reassuring if one did not look to closely at filed teeth that could probably tear flesh and bone like las knife through butter. “Why Captain. I am the reason who will not jump that balcony and splatter that pitiful collection of tissue you call a brain on the ferrocrete below. Now play nice and secure the perimeter.”

“Listen you red faced slu.......yes I understand completely. Men secure the perimeter and let Lord Daxton do his work. Let me get you some tea.” The captain scampered off with all the dignity he could muster not understanding why he was doing what he said he would do.”

“Why didn’t you make him dance first?” His apprentice said in disgust as she watched the officer leave. “His primitive brain wouldn’t be so far to manipulate if you let me do it.”

“There was no need to be petty, besides you would probably left him a gibbering wreck had I let you.” Daxton chided her right back. The pair laughed at the thought as he instructed his apprentice to gather dna samples from the saliva, blood, hair and flesh from the corpse before more people arrived and took note of what he was doing.

 

[Rath Exigo]

​

​

Ship: T-77 'Talon' Stealth Interceptor​

Attn: [member="Alden Akaran"] | [member="Gerhard Manndorf"]​

​

• Confederate Carrier
  Druckenwell, Confederacy of Independent Systems

The belly of the giant carrier was abuzz with activity as the various pilots prepared for their missions and the droid technicians attended to the numerous fighters which would soon deploy over Druckenwell. Most of these were Vulture droids, standard fare in the Confederate Navy, but amongst them there were eight matte-black triangles which stood out in sharp contrast against the brighter purples and whites of the other ships.

Developed several years ago by what would become the Eternal Empire, in the wake of the Second Battle of Nibelungen, the T-77 stealth interceptors were a totally different breed of starfighter, compared to what most of the galaxy fielded. Their design incorporated features which made them very difficult to fly, with a lot of manual controls for the various attitude control thrusters, which gave their pilots the ability to perform maneuvers which would not otherwise be possible with a regular fighter.

Amongst them stood one labeled zero-one-zero, a grim reaper insignia painted on the wingtips along with the callsign 'Fangs'. Temporarily detatched from its unit, this starfighter was a legend amongst the various pilots of the Eternal Empire's naval forces, as was the unit it normally led: Reaper Squadron.

Zero-one-zero had been the very first T-77 to be constructed, its pilot, an Anubian lieutenant commander by the name of Senusnet Atemu, being one of the most experienced individuals in the galaxy at handling the exotic strike craft. Of course, he also went by another name, one which most people were not aware of. Aside from being a starfighter pilot in the Eternal Navy, the Anubian was also Rath Exigo, Lord Commander of the Wardens of the Shroud and secretly one of the most powerful and influential individuals on Nelvaan. He knew exactly what had caused the turmoil that had prompted the Confederacy to dispatch its troops here, afterall, he was partly responsible for planning it.

It would have been ironic if by some cosmic coincidence, he were temporarily assigned to this squadron, but there was nothing coincidental about this assignment. Darth Tacitus, the Eternal Emperor, had pulled some strings. Of course, with Reaper Squadron on leave after the Battle of Copero, it would have been a little bit suspicious to prematurely recall them to active duty, given that this was nothing more than a peacekeeping operation, so Exigo had been sent in by himself.

The blockade played well into the plans of the Wardens, helping to prevent Imperial Remnant agents from escaping the planet. Exigo was here to lend a helping hand.

The squadron's commander, a CDF Marshall called Alden Akaran, had given them a quick, to-the-point briefing with no unnecessary speeches, which Exigo had liked. The Anubian was not someone who liked to trade words. He had his mission, he had his rules of engagement, it was time to get the job done.

Running through the routine of preflight checks that, as a test pilot for the T-77, he had helped design, it did not take Exigo long to go through the various procedures required to feed power to the interceptor's various systems. The comlink activated as a message came through from Flight Control. "Alright, Zero-One-Zero, all systems reporting green. You are cleared for launch," the space traffic control officer informed him.

As the starfighters flew out of the hangar, Exigo took up the outermost position on the right flank. Powering up his sensors, he kept an eye out for targets as he awaited instructions from the squadron's leader.

 

[Gerhard Manndorf]

Objective: Rendevouzs with [member="Rath Exigo"] and [member="Alden Akaran"]
Ship: T-77 'Talon' Stealth Interceptor

Ships orbited Druckenwell. Many different ships. Some looked like flies from the planet's surface. Others could cast some significant shadow. However, one specific ship could not be seen at all.

A T-77 'Talon' class starfighter glided through the void, unseen to those below. The starfighter was on a specific mission. An important mission. All unnecessary systems were dimmed, and comms were muted. The ship simply raced through the void and searched.

"Probability of rendevouzs without comms is 27.87 %. What makes you think you will ever find them, master?"

"They will be here. You shall see."

From a side point of view it looked as if Manndorf was talking to himself. That wasn't the case however. He was talking to his AI implant. It had gotten awfully self aware recently. It didn't look like this was going to change.

"Are you sure you want to pilot a starfighter on this mission? High ranking officers have a much lower probability of dying inside a command ship."

"I know what I'm doing. Besides, I was a squadron commander once, if you remember. I can handle this."

After this short exchange, the chatter in the starfighter ended. A flock of starfighters fell into Manndorf's vision.

Pushing the throttle, Manndorf started gaining ground on the squadron. Waving the wings of his starfighter, he signalled he was friendly and joined into formation. Perhaps they would find something today.

[member="Darth Tacitus"] | [member="Rath Exigo"] | [member="Alden Akaran"]

 

[Corran Conner]

Blackwatch Safehouse
Druckenwell, Confederacy of Independent Systems

Attn: [member="Darth Tacitus"] l [member="Lucius Crane"]​

​

Corran watched the eternal emperor as he sat in the corner of the safehouse on his data pad running through some numbers on several projects. He had weapons but had no clue how to use them still. He'd been trying to practice but his aim was still off and his skills with a blade were less than useful. Oscar Moondew sat across from him checking and cleaning his gun again. They continued to work together even after leaving their last job.

Corran thought about when they had left and how they had gotten here. Corran had left the family with Oscar when Vork had died well after he had cleaned up any traitors and allowed them to find the hidden group taking them down. It had lead to his moral code becoming shatter and he was angrier than usual. All these had lead him to lead and Oscar's reasoning was he wasn't being left behind after everything they had done together.

So the two of them went around the galaxy getting to know the other more as they tried finding a new home. During this time Corran had begun trying to work on his weapon skills however he had been less than successful. Even with a rather good teacher but his mind had remained sharp which was always continuing to assist him in everything he had been working on from new chemicals to new weapon designs. Somehow the two of them had ended up meeting the eternal empire and been impressive enough to become some of their blackwatch operatives.

Now they were on the planet Druckenwell, waiting on new orders from their emperor on how they were going about on this new incursion against the eternal empire. Soon would be the time to release him to remove any problems hidden within this planet.

 

[Luca Donskoi]

TAGS: [member="Gerhard Manndorf"] | [member="Rath Exigo"]​

All seemed normal as Alden was joined by the two wingman that formed the small squadron for today’s patrol sweeps. Even at a high altitude, the scanners of the vessel ran near perfect scans of the area that surrounded the three. Nothing yet. It was calm and quiet and everything seemed to be just another routine flight.

The group’s tasking was simple: patrol the area and neutralize any threats. Basically, just be Druckenwell’s upgraded police force until the turmoil and discord on the surface could be brought back to order.

Alden shrugged in his seated position within the cockpit, casting a cursory glance to his left, where ‘Fangs’ had formed up, and then his right, eyeing the final member there off the wing tip. By this point, the three of them had made it several miles north of the city where an assassination of some high-ranking official had occurred just days earlier. The new viceroy, apparently, and also a former member of the CDF. Go figure, but it wasn’t like the name really meant much to Alden as he’d only just joined the CIS in recent months.

After a moment more of flying their current trajectory, Alden pulled the yoke slightly three time to the right, dipping the right wing tip and signaling to the others that he was about to break in that direction for the next pass over the city.

 

[Kas Varad]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQnPUt8rZHA

​

Space Assets: ​Twilight-Cause a Valiant II Class Star Destroyer
Sub Battlegroup: Leto(Bravo), CO: SSM Valtroth Akestos XO: FM Tavross Karn
2x Mordekai Class Escort
Various Fighter | Bomber Squadrons

It was a new day for Clan Varad, back in space again, more comfortable in space than on ground for Kas anyway given the turbulent history of the last few years, let alone the misguided attempts on his life. He strode onto the Twilight-Cause, a Valiant II class star destroyer kitted out his dark mahogany red Mandalorian armor of house Varad. The clan symbol burned into its upper left chest and shoulder. The Valiant ii had a lot of Varad aboard but they were the newcomers, not taking on such a large fleet role before.

Zzzzz The Bridge Door Opened.

Six of the eldest and most respected from the clan arrived on the bridge, it was a tense moment greeting the captain. A lot of the bridge officers didn’t know what to make of the display of six dark red super-commandos walking right up to them.

"Needed a hand?” Kas said monotone.

Kas was giving them one anyway. The Fleet could use some experienced spacers at the helm for scouting the local area, and his clan living in space were as experienced as they came. It would help with the operation overall, not taking on a direct role but doing what they could from a distance.

“Take your station.” The captain ordered, not all that happy but he could see the benefit. There was a moment where everyone wondered if the Crusaders would play ball, but they were here to help. Kas secured his helmet back on and stood in the first officer's position, right behind the captain.

The Twilight-Cause jumped into the system. Battle Group and All. Supporting all operations with scout and monitoring craft.

Spoiler

Probably solo background flavor only unless you need an eye in the sky or assets.

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

​

Objective: Be able to trace all those who haven't gone missing yet
Wearing: Armor | Leather Pants | Pathfinder Boots | The Forgemaster's Ring | Ring of Stasis | Sofitor
Wielding: 10 Czerka knives | 2 Nastirci Combat Knives | Fire and Smoke (lightsabers) | Hidden Wrist Blades | Knight Obsidian Sword | 4 Glitter Bullets
Tags: [member="Ithiel Vi'Dreya"]

Just as she finished sending her message out, Madalena heard the question by the man, [member="Ithiel Vi'Dreya"]. Where did she want- Oh, tools. "Hold on to them a wee bit longer," she replied with a friendly smile, "I'm waiting for word from-"

Ding ding!

Now she smiled again. "Follow me," she said, motioning to the Mandalorian. They had… A lot of floors to go down. Thankfully though, there was an elevator, and it was functional. As the two entered it, she pressed the button that would take them down to the morgue. "You're a Knight Obsidian, aren't you?" she asked, making small talk. His scent already gave away the fact he was one of the Vicelord's children – but that something Madalena knew well enough by now not to mention. People tended to get creeped out when they were first exposed to her blood hound abilities, abilities that let her smell the blood through the Force, and more importantly, ride it.

Which… come to think of it, the guy was soon to be exposed to anyway. After all, that was why they were going to the morgue in the first place.

The doors to the elevators opened and Madalena stepped out, leading both herself and the Mandalorian. She followed the signs, all the way to the end of the hall and around the corner, a few waves of the hand as they passed by officials, and then they were inside.

"You can drop the bag here," Madalena said as she looked around. She'd forgotten how icy morgues were kept. There were heat clouds coming out of her mouth with every breath. Going by the digital files on her pad, she scrolled until she found the right one, and then found the matching corpse tray, pulling it open. Their dead viceroy was there.

"Don't get too disgusted," she said quietly as she grabbed one of her knives and cut along the viceroy's arm. He'd been dead for long enough for blood extraction to not be as quick as with a living person. Deeper cuts were needed, and she knew more or less how much blood was required at this point.

Without ceremony, Madalena leaned down and licked at the blood, allowing it to gather inside her mouth. As the blood magic began to do its work she closed her eyes, allowing the memories to take over her vision. The viceroy's last minutes, moving like a holomovie on the back of her sight, all bathed in shades of red. Riding the Blood.

Moments later, the Sith opened her eyes, and turned to look at the Mandalorian with her.

"Sunlight reflecting from the sniper's scope," she said, her eyes still somewhat saucery, her voice almost dreamy, "the viceroy saw that. He knew it was going to happen before it happened, but too late to do something about it."

She closed her eyes again, focusing on the memory of that vision. "I know where the sniper was when they shot him. Come on!"

And with that, the two left the morgue.

 

[Frontier Tenacity]

​

Attn: [member="Alden Akaran"] | [member="Gerhard Manndorf"] | [member="Kas Varad"] | [member="Rath Exigo"]​

​

Above Druckenwell, amongst the Confederate blockade already forming up, another ship joined the encirclement of the planet, its transponder codes identifying it as the CNS Bonesaw, an Adjudicator-class Star Destroyer belonging to the Eternal Empire.

Although the ship's arrival was unexpected, a brief exchange between Operational Command and the ship's comms ensign convinced the dispatch officer that the vessel was simply in the area on a routine patrol and had joined the blockade in response to Confederate hails it had picked up.

However, one of the junior officers aboard the Confederate command ship's bridge had a nagging suspicion that just would not go away. He decided to break comms silence with one of the T-77 squadrons and redirect it to check out the new arrival, just in case.

"Sky Marshall Akaran, this is OPCOM. A new ship identifying itself as the CNS Bonesaw has made an unscheduled entry into the system. We advise that you check it out, although the decision ultimately rests with you. OPCOM out."

Meanwhile the uninvited ship continued to advance, placing itself behind the Twilight Cause and its escorts, discretely powering up its weapons as it slowly maneuvered into position.

​

Attn: [member="STaCLO"] | [member="Scherezade DeWinter"] | [member="Daxton Bane"] | [member="Ithiel Vi'Dreya"] | [member="Araya"]​

​

Although it was still early for a definitive conclusion, the samples collected from the body seemed to contain trace amounts of chemicals used to accelerate growth. Although not incriminating on its own, this small clue added credence to the suspicions that the deceased Viceroy was, in fact, a clone.

Scherezade and Ithiel Vi'Dreya would arrive at the sniper's nest to find it recently vacated, a slugthrower rifle of unknown model still standing on its tripod, overlooking the square below. Additional investigation would reveal that the rifle was a custom weapon, built by a Geonosian gunsmith who's shop could be found near the city's spaceport, in the trade district. It seemed that the assassin had been on the planet for a while, planning the Viceroy's death. He had been forced to abandon the weapon when he fled the scene.

Araya would be able to uncover several documents pointing to a suspicion connection between the Viceroy and one of the planet's shipyards. Three discrete payments adding up to just over two hundred million credits had been made to disappear from the records, although the traces were still there. The money had been dispersed into several accounts registered with dummy corporations and ultimately disappeared from the system, but there was definitely something fishy going on here, though whatever this money bought and for whom, was a complete mystery.

Attn: [member="Darth Tacitus"] | [member="Lucius Crane"] | [member="Corran Conner"]​

​

One of the prisoners being interrogated, a Chiss bureaucrat who worked for one of the planet's shipyards had finally cracked. Although he did not have much information, he was able to reveal that the shipyard had received several large payments which he had been bribed to keep off the records. The sum was too large by far to be a case of smugglers discretely buying forged transponder codes and entire sections of the shipyard had been cordoned off for some project that had ended several months ago.

Coincidentally, the company which ran the shipyard, also employed the deceased Viceroy before the elections. Whatever the Imperial Remnant's goals were, it seems they went beyond just infiltrating the planet's institutions. The Imperials had built something here, in the months leading up to the election, something big. And this spelled nothing good for the Confederacy and its defenders.

For such an operation to have been pulled off in secrecy, the corruption had to go beyond a few employees. High-ranking company officials had to have been involved, perhaps the entire board of directors. The risks were far too great to overlook this. All those under suspicion would have to be captured and interrogated.

​

 

[Warmaster Nyâsh]

Location Druckenwell System, Outer Orbit of Druckenwell, Confederate Carrier
Orders Primary: Quick Reaction Force, Secondary: Defend the Carrier
Part of Eternal Empire´s Investigation Group, 82nd Ultranaut Regiment

Unit designation Grimus-8-2, 82nd Ultranaut Regiment
Unit strength four battalions of Ultranauts; assault-shuttle attachment

​

​

The briefing about this deployment was rather unsatisfying. Moreover the Colonel was in no good mood. Not at all.
His helmet was lying next to him on a seat, he himself was leaning back against the seat as comfortable as the armour allowed him to and he had his eyes closed. Colonel Efried Halbrecht was thinking about the lack of usefulness in this operation. Some investigation, a blockade, secret approaches - nothing he could help with, nothing he desired to do. Of course a dangerous and urgent business could call his men into battle, but still, waiting was the most horrifying and devastating enemy a soldier has.

The rest of the Regiment was gathered on the carrier, two battalions at full arms and waiting in barracks next to the hangars to swiftly be able to deploy to the surface in case of need. They just met up again. After the victory at Copero, a portion of the Regiment was taken to Hoylin, some part-time death world where they had a guard job, the other part was moving back to Nelvaan. Every soldier is glad if there is no fighting, but the waiting ...
The regiment had barely time to re-supply, before the new orders came in again. Transit was the only time when the Ultranauts of the 82nd are allowed to rest and calm down in the past months, otherwise they are drilled or engaged.

Now they are waiting again. The other half of the regiment was sleeping, it was a strict order to maintain the resting phases. Four hours and then they would switch again. Except for the Colonel, he was up an entire day so far. He was bothered with the idea of sitting here and looking forward to some attack on allies, to not see his regiment back at Nelvaan. He was loyal, without doubt or hesitation, he would do everything what was commanded, but his men needed a break from being shipped back and forth.

Trying to put his thoughts to rest, the commander was going through the last reports again ...

 

[H3xle]

​

Objective: Investigate Dead Politicians
Tags: [member="Ithiel Vi'Dreya"] | [member="Scherezade deWinter"]

​

Araya's tail twitched as the last document finished copying over to her portable storage. She removed it and stored it back in her satchel before wiping down the station and leaving the office. Her eyes flitted from side to side, making sure she wasn't being directly observed coming out of the office, then she moved down the hall to the elevator bank. She took the elevator back down to the first floor, but instead of leaving the building she moved to the cafe that serviced the various business people in the building. She took a table against the wall and opened her datapad. She spent a couple of minutes browsing the holonet aimlessly, watching out of the corners of her eyes to see if she was being observed.

When she was satisfied with her relative anonymity, she disconnected her datapad from the holonet and slotted in her portable drive. She brought up the documents she'd taken from the dead politicians office, and spent her time reviewing them.

- - -

A couple of hours later, Araya left the building and hailed a cab. She'd found a few clues that linked the politician to some shady payments linked to one of the orbital yards. She took the cab a few miles uptown, then walked a few blocks and took a second cab to a large greenspace in the middle of the city. She spent an hour there walking around, then took a final cab to the red light district. She walked out of the district as she kept an eye out for tails and slipped into her rented loft off of a side street. The locked door behind her gave her a sense of security, and space to think. She needed to figure out how to approach this, and see whether or not these payments were related to the politicians death.

After a while pacing in her loft, she sat down at her terminal and began to research the corporations who owned the accounts. She put in all of the security her terminal had, and began to dive into the holonet records of the corporations. They were legit on the front face, but only a little digging had shown them to be shells. She just needed to find out how the shells all tied together. In the office building downtown, she'd traced them all to a specific shipyard in orbit. Pulling up the board and executive level employees, she began to backtrace them to see if any of them had connections to the dead politicians or the corporations that the money vanished into.